Item Biography
"Veni, Vidi, Vici: Viper!"
Another day on the streets of New York, and another attempt by cheap hoods to make a rep for themselves taking out Captain America. A name dropped in passing by one of the punks, "the Cowled Commander", captures Steve's attention.
Cap makes his secret meeting with the Commissioner, where the veteran Police chief updates the situation with corruption in the department. The Commissioner leaves Cap to ponder, then... BOOM!
Falcon swoops in on Boss Morgan's rooftop party, while Morgan makes unsubtle overtures to Falc about them working for a common cause. A fateful phone call comes in. Morgan relays the news; Captain America is dead - killed by an explosion in Hell's Kitchen.
In sombre mood, Falc swings to the scene of the wreckage where a grief-stricken Sharon Carter has already accepted the unbelievable. Falc has more faith, and joins firefighters in searching through the debris for his missing, presumed dead partner.
A flash from atop a building opposite halts Sam's search. Closer investigation of the roof unveils a new villain, the Viper. Speaking in flowery language like a Madison Avenue ad agency man, the slimy creep brags of how he planted the bomb that killed Cap.
A brief skirmish ends with Falc falling foul of Viper's venom darts. Viper doesn't have the time for a victory dance, as a familiar voice interrupts his triumph. Cap is very much alive, and presently angry.
Another brief scuffle ends in stand-off, with Viper bargaining for release if he grants Cap the antidote to his venom. More worried about saving his partner than letting a villain go free, Cap agrees. Upon turning his back, Cap is shot with a venom dart fired by the treacherous man-serpent.
First appearance of Viper (Jordan Dixon).
Contains a fan letter from Tom Orzechowski.